Surgical brace



June 25, 1963 E. L. JEWETT 3,094,984

SURGICAL BRACE Filed Sept. 1, 1961 IN VEN TOR. Eoaaws L. Jews/7' hzammm An el/E vs United States Patent 3,094,984 SURGICAL BRACE Eugene L. Jewett, Maitland, Fla., assignor to Florida Brace Corporation, Winter Park, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Sept. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 135,669 6 Claims. (Cl. 128-78) This invention relates to a surgical brace.

A brace embodying the present invention provides a subframe fitted firmly to the patients pelvic region. The frame as a whole includes bars which are connected to sternal and pubic pads at the front of the patients body, and to the side pads at opposite sides of the patients body. Downward and rearward flank extensions from the side pads curve about the patients flanks and are strapped together about the buttocks.

For patients who have had a fusion operation, the lumbar pad has supplemental cushions spaced at opposite sides of the spinal column to provide pressure support for the lumbar region Without pressure upon the area in which the surgical work had been done. These supplemental cushions are desirably adhered to the surface of the lumbar pad. They can be stripped off when no longer needed in order that the brace may function as a hyperextension brace without requiring a substitute pad.

The lumbar pad has dual supporting tension straps of non-extensible metal and these, together with the equalizing bar, if any, are desirably housed within the cover of the lumbar pad.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a brace embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the brace shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the brace shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lumbar strap and pad assembly as it appears when removed from the brace.

The brace comprises a frame which includes allochiral sternal bars 5 and 6 and allochi-ral pubic bars 7 and 8 interconnected with each other as hereinafter described. The upper ends of the pubic bars are adjustably connected with the lower ends of the sternal bars by means of reenforcing plates 10 within the respective side pads 11 and 12.

The lower end portions 9 of the respective sternal bars 5 and 6 are nearly upright at opposite sides of the patients body. The portion 90 of each sternal bar extends forwardly in an almost horizontal direction and curves about the patients thorax toward the front of his body. At 13 the respective bars again extend nearly vertically at the front of the patients body, while at 130 their terminal portions extend toward each other across the front of the patients body, being adjustably connected with a plate member 14 which completes the frameforming connection between the sternal bars at this point.

Sternal pad 21 is mounted from frame member 14 in any desired manner. In my companion application, Serial No. 135,510, filed September 1, 1961, the sternal pad is pivoted, but no pivotal connection is shown in the present case.

The pubic bars 7 and 8 have portions 25 and 26 which curve forwardly and downwardly and are adjustably connected with the stiffening plate 270 of pubic pad 27.

The pubic bars 7, 8 and pubic pad 27 and the lateral torso pads 11, 12 constitute a subframe which may be equipped with a buttocks-encircling strap to girdle the patients pelvic region. Due particularly to the design of the lateral torso pads, the subframe is useful in fusion cases and the like without the sternum pad and arms.

The bars 10 which internally re-enforce the lateral torso 3,094,984 Patented June 25,1963

pads 11 and 12 are rather narrow. Below their connections with the pubic bars 7 and 8, the bars curve rearwardly at 18 and pass downwardly and inwardly behind the patient-to their terminal portions 19. The pad portions 20 behind these bars are flexible. 'Fhey extend behind the bars to the terminal portions 19 thereof. Here the bars are provided with hooks 21 with which strap 22 may be connected to extend around the patients buttocks to complete the girdling of the pelvic portions of the patients body. For hyperextension cases, the strap 22 may not be desired. Its use is optional. In any event, the downward and rearward inwardly curving extensions of the flank pads and the terminal portions 21 of the internal re-enforcement of such pads contribute markedly to the firmness of support provided by this brace.

The lumbar pad 30 extends arcuately about the patients body and has, within its covering 40, channels 31 and 32 formed by rows of stitching and which confine the supporting metal tension straps 28 and 29. These straps are connected to the frame means at 33 and 34 and pivotally connected by rivets 35 and 36 to an equalizer link 38 also housed within the covering of the lumbar pad. An extension strap 39 pivoted to the equalizer link 38 is detachably fastened to the frame book 46 by the sleeve 43, which is adjustable on the extension strap 39 by means described in my companion application Serial No. 135,510, filed September 1, 1961, and executed concurrently herewith.

On the inner concave face of the lumbar pad are detachably cemented sponge rubber cushions 50 and 51 laterally spaced at opposite sides of the patients spine to avoid direct pressure contact with the site of a fusion operation, while still providing firm pressure support for the lumbar region. When the surgical incision has healed sufliciently so that the spine can stand direct pressure of the lumbar pad (which is, of course, itself internally cushioned) the external cushions 50 and 5-1 can be stripped from the lumbar pad.

It will be observed that the lumbar pad 30 has lateral extensions 301 and 302 which project from the pad proper along the tension straps 28 and 29. These extensoins lap portions 20 of the torso side pads 11, 12, whereby the rear of the patients body is substantially completely encircled by the padded material. The metal tension straps are nearly completely enclosed.

The several pads shown desirably comprise an internal cushion 41 of material such as sponge rubber usually laminated with a stiffening ply 42, the jacket being a moisture and soil-resistant cover 40 of material such as artificial leather. The re-enforcing plates and bars constituting the frame are desirably made of surgical steel, being corrosion resistant and strong and inflexible in the sense that they do not yield appreciably under the pressures to which they are subject in use. The metal tension straps are flexible but unyielding under tension.

This brace is particularly adapted for a wide variety of usage both as a flexion brace and a hyperextension brace. As a flexion brace, it will ordinarily have the sternal pad 18 and the sternal bars 5 and 6 removed. As a hyperextension brace, strap 42 may be removed and the auxiliary cushions 50 and 51 of the lumbar pad 30 may be omitted.

I claim:

1. A surgical brace comprising a pubic pad, pubic arms connected with the pubic pad, lateral torso pads connected with the pubic arms, a lumbar pad, and tension strap means for supporting the lumbar pad from the pubic arms, the lumbar pad having lateral extensions along the strap means lapping the lateral torso pads, the lateral torso pads having internal re-enforcement and extending downwardly and rearwardly and curvilinearly inwardly from their connection with said pubic arms.

2. A surgical brace according to claim 1 in further combination with strap means disposed below the lumbar pad and connecting the inwardly curving lower extremities of the lateral torso pads and constituting means cooperative with the pubic arms and pubic pad for completing encirclement of the patients pelvic region "below the lumbar pad.

3. A surgical brace according to claim 1, in which the lumbar pad is provided at its inner face with laterally spaced inwardly exposed cushions and means for detachably connecting the cushions with the pad.

4. A surgical brace according to claim 1 in further combination with a sternal pad and frame means for supporting the sternal pad from the pubic arms.

5. A surgical brace according to claim 1 in which the lumbar pad with its said extensions is provided with References Cited in the 'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,255,969 Witt Feb. 12, 1918 1,562,935 Whisner Nov. 24, 1925 1,995,002 Lee Mar. 19, 1935 2,295,016 Scribner Sept. 8, 1942 2,582,930 Jewett Jan. 15, 1952 2,760,486 Ward Aug. 28, 1956 2,808,050 Ward Oct. 1, 1957 

1. A SURGICAL BRACE COMPRISING A PUBIC PAD, PUBIC ARMS CONNECTED WITH THE PUBIC PAD, LATERAL TORSO PADS CONNECTED WITH THE PUBIC ARMS, A LUMBAR PAD, AND TENSION STRAP MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE LUMBAR PAD FROM THE PUBIC ARMS, THE LUMBAR PAD HAVING LATERAL EXTENSIONS ALONG THE STRAP MEANS LAPPING THE LATERAL TORSO PADS, THE LATERAL TORSO PADS HAVING INTERNAL RE-ENFORCEMENT AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND REARWARDLY AND CURVILINEARLY INWARDLY FROM THEIR CONNECTION WITH SAID PUBIC ARMS. 